Thursday, April 27, 2017

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Through this wonderful business of photography I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful clients. Old friends, new friends we get together we talk about what we're going to shoot. Nothing is ever etched in stone - we go with the flow and let our personalities gel. We never know what we're going to come away with and that's half the fun! I always revert back to the feeling of trust that is built with each and every client. Not every job out there will be for "me" but I know the ones I chose to take on will bring out the best in all of us.

Lynn and Patte always bring their sense of fun and "character" play during their shoots. This time was no different. They raided one of our local theater costume basements and arrived in style to make for some fun vintage portraits.

With a quick change of gears I was greeted by Catrina and her two lovely daughters Samantha and Sydney for the second half of the day. Catrina said she thought Sam and Sydney would be "adventurous" - and they certainly were! Not inhibited by my camera at all. Our shoot flew by - they had a ball trying on different outfits and giving me a glimpse of their personality through our short time together. It's almost one of those shoots that the "behind the scenes" shots would be just as much fun as the final portraits.

Capturing some classic family moments in the frenzy of sharing an afternoon together with some new friends.

And, I'm learning that not too many of my photo sessions will end without the question "So....do you want to wear the Superman patch?"

I look at this photo of Sydney and I want every single girl to feel this way ~ me included. My clients make me feel like "Superman" on days like these.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The bond between
Man and Woman - Mother and Child
For this I used a prop thinking it had the look of a woman's anatomy in a conceptually broad sense. Also, I had purchased this 1930's gown and the fire hose on one of my outings with Cathy. So we also have the bond of friendship instilled into this image. Touching on many special bonds.

Tech specs on lighting:
One flash directly behind me facing my back. I had two full length white foam boards on my left and right to reflect and wrap the light around me and light my front. I also tried a small light with grid just on the fire hose - but wasn't happy with the unwanted shadows it cast~ so that was X'd. It's certainly not "beauty" light but it conveyed the mood I was going for on this one. Not sure I loved the blown highlights by my elbows and hair but I accepted them in the process.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Spent the weekend traveling up the coast of Maine. Stopping first for a visit with long time friends Bridget and Rob enjoying our time catching up with lunch followed by a walk along the sea close by their home. Then it was on to Portland to meet my friend Cathy for a weekend at the Old Port.

Our cameras stayed in their bags as our conversation took us through the evening - catching up on life's adventures.

Sunday morning came and it was off to Old Port with our cameras rearing to go. We didn't have to travel far distances as the vibrance of Union Wharf kept us entertained for quite some time. It was a welcomed respite to wander through that pier taking photographs enjoying such a brilliant spring day. We commented on how our moods had changed - we felt comfortable - happy - uplifted - through the simple act of walking, talking and taking pictures.

This was one of the scenes I felt drawn to from the pier....

I stayed with it for quite a while - feeling I needed to keep going with it -

I mentioned to Cathy that I felt I was being drawn in by words. It made me think of something Jay Maisel told us during our workshop "don't include words unless you want the viewer to read them"

humph...?

Once we had our fill of the pier we started to venture to the streets of Portland. Our gait is slow as we observe and find something that interests us to photograph. We don't move together as one but we manage to stay close by one another as we shoot. Snippets of conversation here and there and then we go off into our own zone so to speak. A small building sits along the ocean side of Commercial Street. I ended up on one side of the building and Cathy ended up on the other side. While I was standing there I photographed a couple of bicyclists riding by. After they passed I heard a seagull squawking rather loudly as he wanted to get my attention. As I looked up to see him he landed on the top of the building across the street. I watched him and decided to wait for him to take flight - he did - I snapped one frame.

I went to see where Cathy was and found her on the other side of the building. We hadn't exchanged photos all morning - she was excited "...you have to see what I just shot" When I looked at the back of her camera I was giddy. "No way - let me show you what I just shot". We compared photos. They were almost identical. We had a chuckle and felt like it was "our photo of the day" in a wonderful, eerie kind of way.

The rest of the day was exploring the city. We put our cameras away and just enjoyed each others company while walking in and around the city.

Lunch time didn't come until late afternoon. As we sat and waited for our food to arrive Cathy had the thought to look up what a Seagull Totem means....

here's what we found....

If A Seagull has flown across your path;

It’s time to take a different perspective on things. Take a moment and step back from everything that you are currently dealing with and look at it from a different angle. Your solution lies in changing your attitude towards the problem at hand. Soar above the drama and look through your own emotional boundaries so that you can find creative new ways to move forward. There is a clue in using the long hidden resources you already have.

Alternatively Seagull is reminding you that everything has a purpose and that there are currently many things in your life that need to be redefined and reassigned. Take a moment to sort through the clutter and let go of that which you can no longer use.

There is always opportunity in everything and it can be found in the most unlikely places. Things may seem a little barren and unproductive right now, however even the most unlikely places can bear an opportunity for your new resources. The point is to realize that you are in this place and time for a reason. Remain optimistic and know that this reason will be revealed. Trust your instincts and follow through.